Richard Henry Lee to John Adams

My Presidential year being ended, I had left New York for this place (from which and from my family I had been thirteen months absent) before letters which you did me the honor to write me on the twenty-sixth of August & the sixth and seventh of September came to hand, which has prevented me from showing civilities to Mr Storer and Mr Wengrove that I should otherwise have taken pleasure in doing. The state of my health is so precarious (being prevented by the Gout in my right hand from writing myself) that it is uncertain when I shall be permitted to return to Congress. But let me be where I will, I shall always be happy to correspond with you. My brother Arthur Lee who now resides at New York, a Commissioner of the [Treasury] of the U.S. will receive and forward to me such letters as you are pleased to write. It gives me pleasure to hear of Col. Smith as so agreeable a secretary to you, indeed I had expected so from his politeness, his good sense, and his spirit. It is certainly a misfortune both to the United States and to Great Britain that a singular kind of after wisdom, the latter should so perpetually keep the two countries at variance with each other. To profit from experience so becometh Nations as well as individuals Yet it denoteth much ill to both when advice is not taken from that best . . . of knowledge. It is this kind of wisdom that having already irrevocably lost to Great Britain a great and valuable part of her dominions, is now proceeding to deprive her of a great and valuable part of her Commerce. Dear Sir I plainly perceive that the Statesmen and the commercial mistakes of that country are going to force these United States contrary to their inclination, into systems that will probably prevent our trade from ever flowing as it probably would have done, into British channels. It is true that we may be injured in the commencement of these experiments, but it is certain that those who compel them will be more hurt. A similar experiment has been lately made, yet such is the curse attending Britain and British Statesmen, that they will neither remember the one, or profit from the other. I join with you in hoping soon to see American Factories established in the East and certainly it will be highly agreeable to me to find Mr Steptoe promoting there his country’s and his own good I have the honor to be with every sentiment of esteem and regard

your friend and Servant.

Richard Henry Lee